If you want to rank better in YouTube search results, learning how to find long tail keywords for YouTube is one of the smartest strategies you can try. In this post by MiniTool Video Converter, we’ll break down what long tail keywords are, why they’re important on YouTube, and how to find and use them to optimize your content.
What Are Long Tail Keywords
Long-tail keywords are more specific keyword phrases that typically contain three or more words and target a more specific audience than short keywords. Unlike short-tail (or broad) keywords such as “makeup tutorial,” long-tail keywords focus on a more defined topic, like “natural makeup tutorial for oily skin.”
In general, long tail keywords tend to have lower search volume than short tail keywords, but it also means they are less competitive.
Why Long Tail Keywords Matter on YouTube
As we know, YouTube is the second-largest search engine in the world after Google. And just like with Google, most people type specific phrases into the search bar when they want something.
For content creators, ranking videos higher in YouTube search results isn’t a simple process, even though sometimes they follow YouTube SEO best practices. This difficulty often arises because they tend to focus on short keywords that have high search volumes, which can help them go viral quickly. However, these keywords are also more competitive.
Actually, for smaller channels, it’s often more advantageous to target long tail keywords with lower competition. This allows them to rank more easily for a variety of specific search terms rather than struggling with highly competitive keywords.
Moreover, incorporating long-tail keywords into your YouTube titles, descriptions, tags, and scripts helps the algorithm understand exactly what your video is about and who it’s for. This strategy also increases your chances of being featured in YouTube’s suggested videos, which is a major source of organic traffic.
How to Find Long Tail Keywords for YouTube
So, how can you find long tail keywords for YouTube? In the following content, I will introduce several useful methods. Explore them now!
Method 1: Use YouTube Search Autocomplete
One of the easiest and free ways to find long-tail keywords is by using YouTube’s own search bar. When you enter a word or phrase into the search bar of YouTube, it will pop up some search predictions based on your input. It is often longer than the original term you typed.
Want to know more about YouTube autocomplete? Read this post: What Is YouTube Autocomplete & How to Use It to Find Keywords.
How to use it:
1. Start typing a keyword related to your niche.

2. Look at the search suggestions YouTube provides.
3. Pick the long tail keywords you want to use in your video.
Method 2: Explore Google Autocomplete and “People Also Ask”
Similar to YouTube autocomplete, Google also provides search suggestions when users type in keywords in its search bar. It is another excellent source to find long tail keywords that work on YouTube. Just like on YouTube, you only need to type the keywords into the search bar and then choose a long tail keyword from its suggestions.

Besides, in the search results page, you can also go to the “People also ask” section of your Google browser to find question-based long tail keywords.

Method 3: Use a Keyword Research Tool
Furthermore, you can utilize a long tail keyword research tool like TubeBuddy to find long tail keywords for your YouTube videos. TubeBuddy is a browser extension designed specifically for YouTube creators. It includes a Keyword Explorer that provides valuable data on search volume, competition, and relevance.
How to use it:
1. Install the TubeBuddy extension on your browser and connect it with your YouTube channel.
2. Go to YouTube, click the extension’s icon at the top, and select Keyword Explorer from the menu.

3. Type in a broad keyword and look at the long-tail suggestions.

4. Select a long tail keyword and check its search volume, competition, and optimization strength scores.
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Bottom Line
To boost your visibility, grow your audience, and make you content more discoverable, you can consider finding and using long tail keywords on YouTube. Here, I have offered a full guide on how to find long tail keywords on YouTube. Hope it would be helpful!